Fire TV Stick

If you have a TV, and access to more than one streaming service, Roku or a Fire streaming TV device is basically essential at this point – it’s like a concierge for your streaming experience. The verdict for superior device is a toss up, but Fire TV makes a good case for itself this Prime Day at a nearly 60% discount. Cheap, easy to navigate, and includes voice assistant access with Amazon’s Alexa.

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Apple Watch (Series 8)

It knows when you’re sleeping, it knows when you’re awake — and now it’s on sale. The cream of the smartwatch crop, and the newest one from Apple, is nearly 20% off for Prime Day. It does more than a Rolex ever could, even if it’s less flashy: it can track your sleep cycle, fitness, and even monitor your heartbeat. It’s a good deal for devotees to the House of Apple. 

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Samsung The Frame TV

Do you want to pretend that you’re too good to have a TV in your home? Want to give the impression that you spend Sundays at the museum and haven’t seen The Idol? Samsung’s squarely named “The Frame” is a good bet. It’s a television that doubles as a painting. It displays any image of your choice – some Dutch Master’s contemplation of a rotting orange – when you’re not using it. Images pop on the matte screen.

Much cheaper (and more expensive) frame TV options have emerged as the products have become more popular (TikTok decorators have even demonstrated how to manually install frames on regular TVs), but Samsung’s is still the standard-bearer. 

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Apple AirPods (2nd Generation)

If you don’t have wireless headphones yet, you’ve got it tangled. Wireless is convenient and, for the moment anyway, affordable. These 2nd generation AirPods (not to be confused with the Pros) are a good sub-$100 choice. The sound quality is excellent, there’s hands-free Siri access, and the mic is solid. AirPods Pro models may offer nifty features like background noise reduction, but for the discounted price, this older pair is a good bet.  

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Sony LinkBuds S Truly Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbud Headphones with Alexa Built-in

Sony’s LinkBuds are the brand’s answer to AirPods – down to its competing price point. Linkbuds cost only slightly more than the second generation AirPods, but may be more of a peer to the AirPods Pro. Like the Pro, LinkBuds have silicone tips to fit in your ears better and have a noise-canceling mode. The Sony model also offers EQ adjustments through the Sony app, meaning you can customize your sound – something Apple doesn’t have.

If you want something that’s on par with the newer AirPods Pro models, LinkBuds are a solid option – especially if you’re dead-set against the Apple Industrial Complex.

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Google Pixel Buds A-Series – Wireless Earbuds – Headphones with Bluetooth

The Google Pixel Buds are a fantastic budget option for those looking to cut the cord(s), and they’re nearly half off for Prime Day. They’re comfortable, connect to phones pretty seamlessly, and have solid sound quality – although as reviewers note, it’s a lot better for making calls than listening to music, although still serviceable for the latter. 

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Google Nest Cam

Having home surveillance access from a tap or two of your smartphone has emerged as a priority for many in recent years. Ring’s video doorbells are popular, but a two pack of Google’s Nest Cam is nearly $100 off on Prime Day, and a better bargain than the former’s twin pack. Nest Cams also come with night vision, floodlights, and compatibility with multiple streaming outputs (tablets, smart TVs, etc). 

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SAMSUNG Galaxy Tab A8 Android Tablet, 10.5" LCD Screen

If you’re looking to spend under $150 on a tablet, this Samsung Galaxy one is a solid deal for those priced out of the iPad class. It’s a pristine budget option – the display is the Galaxy Tab’s standout feature, making it a great option for someone mostly looking to stream videos and play games. The battery life and camera aren’t anything to write home about, but that’s an acceptable compromise given the price. 

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Belkin SoundForm Elite Hi-Fi Smart Speaker

If you want something a little more music-forward, the Belkin SoundForm Elite is a great option that offers phone-charging capabilities and the ability to connect to Amazon’s Alexa (another version lets you connect to Google Assistant). As with the Amazon devices, you can use Alexa to manage tasks, control other smart devices, and browse the internet for you.  

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Lenovo IdeaPad 3 Gaming Laptop

Lenovo has the best Prime Day deal for gaming laptops, slashing the price of its IdeaPad 3 by a full third. For less than $600, you get a lot of bang for your buck; it’s well built, has a decently long battery life, and you can upgrade its RAM, as gamers occasionally do. The Prime Day deal for the Minecraft set. 

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Belkin Boost↑Charge Wireless Power Bank 5K w/ MagSafe Compatible 7.5W Charging

For those with older iPhone models (and accompanying battery life that leaves much to be desired), a battery pack is essential – especially for commuters. Even if you’ve got one of the snazzier models, a battery pack is a life saver at one point or another, i.e. a long hike, air travel, or entertaining a child with Cocomelon videos. Belkin’s magnetic charger attaches easily to the back of your phone, simply extending your case, and even comes with a magnetic kickstand (for the Cocomelon binges). Belkin claims to offer 19 hours of extended video playback for the iPhone 14 on a full charge. 

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Belkin MagSafe Wireless Charger Pad

Belkin’s a giant in the charging business. This wireless pad is beloved by many, including a few members of the SPY staff. The cord length is ideal, the clip adjusts easily,, and casing feels durable. 

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LG Sound Bar

“Soundbars” have become a hot item on many home entertainment center wishlists (between speakers and televisions that hide in plain sight, we’re approaching the day living rooms will contain nothing at all). This LG model runs much cheaper than other brands’ – Samsung has a $1,000+ soundbar that uses Dolby Atmos – and has speakers on the sides and in the middle, providing a more immersive soundscape. 

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Belkin SoundForm Elite Hi-Fi Smart Speaker

If you want something a little more music-forward, the Belkin SoundForm Elite is a great option that offers phone-charging capabilities and the ability to connect to Amazon’s Alexa (another version lets you connect to Google Assistant). As with the Amazon devices, you can use Alexa to manage tasks, control other smart devices, and browse the internet for you.  

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iRobot Roomba i4 EVO (4150) Wi-Fi Connected Robot Vacuum

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Sonos Era 300

Bose and Sony are strong incumbents in the audio space. They have brand recognition and massive commercial footprints courtesy of agreements with Best Buy and Target. But when execs from those companies wake up on a Tuesday, they worry about Sonos, the Santa Barbara upstart making .wavs by delivering great audio and superlative design at a lower price point (and without convoluted directions).
 
Design is no small part of what makes the Sonos Era 300 stand out. The corseted tube shape isn’t just a departure from the typical droplet shapes of smart speakers; the shape allows the Era 300 to offer spatial audio. The music (or podcast) sounds like it’s coming from everywhere. And that’s true more or less wherever you place the Era 300. Even in rooms with poor acoustics, the Era 300 sings for its supper.


Why the Era 300 Stood Out in Testing: Spatial audio is only cool if it works so the focus of testing was trying to find situations in which the Era 300 lost its not-so-secret sauce. Didn’t happen. The Era 300 filled every space it occupied.

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Twinkly Squares

Twinkly is a seasonal favorite among Christmas light guys. Their lights boast dazzling color saturation and produce eye-catching effects. Now, the company that put the más in Christmas has created a Lite Brite style pixel artwork setup worthy of a year-round showcase.
 
Twinkly Squares look like a disco floor on the wall, but the are remarkably flexible and can be used to make all kinds of striking art, combining the easy of a chalkboard with the visual variability of a Time Square digital billboards. Mood ring animations? No problem. Gifs? Absolutely. Pixelated self-portraiture? Weird, but you do you.

Why Twinkly Squares Stood Out in Testing: The sizing options make Twinkly Squares particularly appealing. Scaled up, they can dominate a room. Scaled down, they can function as a playful nightlight. And installation is incredibly easy.

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Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit

Ask anyone who had sex in the 1970s and they’ll tell you: Mood lighting creates immersive experiences. Gamers know this. Smart lighting companies know it too. But it’s hard to create a solution that isn’t more of a problem than its worth. With the AI Gaming Sync Box Kit, Govee has done precisely that.
 
Like other similar products, the AI Gaming Sync Box illuminates the wall behind the screen. Unlike other similar products, the AI Gaming Sync Box throws deep colors and can be used to similar effect when watching shows or movies on a smart TV. Unlike other camera based systems, the Govee AI Gaming Sync Box Kit uses a direct HDMI connection to a source — ensuring that there’s minimal delay with its lighting effects.
 
Best of all, Govee’s robust lineup of smart lights consisting of smart LED light bulbs, strip lights, and wall lights can all be combined to work in conjunction with the Box.

Why the AI Gaming Sync Box Stood Out in Testing: There are plenty of lighting solutions aimed at gamers. What separates the good from the bad (green lights from red lights) is latency. The effect is only awesome if its real time. Govee is as close as it gets.

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Bird Buddy

 
The Bird Buddy, a smart bird feeder that provides users with an up close and personal view of their avian visitors, is an if-you-know-you-know product among not just serious birders, but crunchy people generally. It pairs perfectly with a pair of Birkenstocks.
 
The camera is incredible. The detail is wild. The footage captured – all those little dinosaurs pecking away – is Attenborough-worthy. Also, the set up is ingenuous. The Bird Buddy is solar powered, rarely needs to be manually charged and catalogs birds. It’s awesome.
 
Why the Bird Buddy Stood Out in Testing: Tweet tweet. Peck peck. Flap flap. 

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Hisense L9G Projector

TVs are no different than apartments; pricing is all about square footage. But there’s a hack with TVs that allows for mega-big picture at not so mega-big prices. Projectors. With an image size up to 100-inches, the Hisense LG9 laser projector is the best of the bunch.
 
The trouble with digital projectors is that they tend to be underpowered. When there are strong sources of light around, things get real squinty real fast. Not so with the LG9, which puts out 3,000 lumens, enough to put on a show on a sunny day. The contrast and color saturation are superb, which is particularly impressive given the size of the projector, which also boasts 40W Dolby Atmos sound.
 
And lastly, it takes up minimal footprint, unlike today’s sets that can be a pain trying to wall mount. Separated by a few feet from the wall, we loved its space saving design. 

Why the L9G Stood Out in Testing: The LG9 impresses doesn’t just project sharp images, it projects sharp images at an even sharper angle. It doesn’t have to be several paces back from the wall or sheet or screen to work, which makes a massive difference in a smaller space.

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Victrola Stream Onyx

Victrola isn’t exactly the new kid on the block. The Victor Talking Machine Company started turning out phonographs in 1901 and ran one of the most successful advertising campaigns of the early 20th century – the dog listening intently to a recording of his master’s voice. But everything old is new again and Victrola’s latest record player feels as modern as a record player can feel. 
 
The Onyx streams to wireless speakers and works best with Sonos products. But that’s not the only reason people buy the thing. Record people (who can be a bit precious TBH) buy it because it looks awesome. With its Jony Ive-meets-Philippe Starck vibe, it’s the perfect centerpiece in our entertainment center. 

Why the Onyx stood out in Testing: The sounds is terrific, but that’s true of a lot of record players (smart or not). The real difference maker here is the design. It gets comments. It deserves comments.

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Samsung QN90C Neo QLED 4K Smart TV

OLED TVs have the highest quality picture available, but QLED TVs are making up ground incredibly quickly. (The difference, for those keeping track: TK.) The best of the new QLEDs is the Samsung Neo QLED 4K, which boasts Quantum Matrix Technology designed to deepen black and whiten white, building the kind of contrast that has OLED loyalists paying out the nose.
 
In addition to offering superlative picture, the Neo QLED, saves space with its ultra-slim design. It also integrates beautifully with Alexa, which means that it can show images from video doorbells and other sources.

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GE CYNC Dynamic Effects Neon Shape Smart Light

By encasing LEDs in a flexible plastic tube, GE has created a light strip that is less strip than malleable neon sign. The Cync can be adjusted – sculpted really – to create custom lighting setups that make great conversation pieces or visual anchors.
 
The best thing about the Cync is that it’s not one thing. Hang up a shape. Get bored. Hang up another shape. Flexibility begets flexibility.

Why the Cync stood out in Testing: There are other smart lights that form interesting shapes, but none that can be manipulated so easily. The Cync feels like a toy in the best way possible.

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Dyson Zone

We know, it looks a bit obnoxious. But seriously, you’ll need to overlook that because the Dyson Zone is simply one of those fashionable gadgets with a purpose. In this case, you’re knocking two birds with one stone because it’s part noise-canceling headphones, part personal air purifier. After testing it out, we were actually impressed by how well it did at tuning out the noisiness of New York City while walking the streets.
 
Given how air quality is problematic in large metropolitan cities like New York, it was a relief that it supplied purified air when the contact-free visor was attached to the headphones. We definitely got several glances wearing it, but that’s part of the allure wearing the Dyson Zone.

Why the Dyson Zone Stood Out in Testing: You’ll never have to breathe in the stinky subway air again thanks to its face mask that supplies fresh air to you.

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Garmin Forerunner 265S

 
You might already own the equipment for your fitness goals, but there’s a companion worthy enough to track your workouts. The Garmin Forerunner 265S isn’t just another fitness tracker, it’s a fitness tracker on steroids.
 
That’s because of its ability to track various exercises. Whether you’re out on a run through the hills, or simply on a bike burning calories indoors, we found the Garmin Forerunner 265S to accurately track our movements and heart rate. Most notably, we found it most ideal for outdoor running and cycling — where its multi-band GPS held a solid lock onto our location. It’s an important quality because it helps with delivering accurate measurements.
 
Even more astounding was the battery life of the Garmin Forerunner 265S. For something with a rugged design and smartwatch-esque features, we were delighted by its excellent battery life. In fact, it’s rated for upwards of two weeks when it’s in smartwatch mode. Ask any fitness buff, they’ll probably tell you that Garmin’s one to trust.

The multi-band GPS delivers precise location each and every time for even more accurate fitness tracking.

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Ring Solar Pathlight

Ring has encircled the home security market with its extensive line of security cameras. The company is now expanding with other offerings, notably smart lights that incorporate motion sensors. 
 
Everything that is true of other Ring products – intuitive, easy to install, well made – is true of the Solar Ringlight, which keeps a wary eye via a sensor and sheds a soft light onto outdoor spaces. What makes the pathlight remarkable is the resilience of the battery, which holds a charge the way a Jim Brown used to hold a football. The light gives some peace of mind if you’re worried about prowlers or animals or idiots climbing the fire escape, but it’s ultimately a nightlight for the outdoors, perfect for anyone with a deck or balcony.

Why the Ring Solar Pathlight Stood Out in Testing: After 30 days of usage, the battery life is still at a ripe 100% before sunset each day.

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Eufy S120 Solar Wall Light Cam

The Eufy S120 Solar Wall Light Cam can be installed anywhere incredibly fast. No wires. No muss. No fuss. Then it’s all “Lights! Camera! Action!” (Though the action is sold separately.)

The integration of a great solar light and a high-quality security cam into an attractive package is, if not groundbreaking, groundcracking. The Eufy S120 looks smart and offers both a welcoming glow and a deterrent against strangers.

Why the Eufy S120 Solar Wall Light Cam Stood Out in Testing: The quality of the light is remarkable. It’s ambient. It’s pleasant. It makes everyone 15% more attractive.

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Ring Car Cam

Dash cams are, in theory at least, great for capturing footage of the road, the intersection, the bumber, the crash, the ensuing fistfight… what have you. But actually getting access to said footage can feel like pulling the black box out of a downed jet. The Ring Car Cam solves that problem by connecting to smartphones via 4G LTE. Run the app. Get the feed. Download clips. Figure out who scratched the hood. (The quality’s pretty good too, offering wide views for both the car’s interior and what’s in front.)
 
We’re also talking about Ring here, one of the pioneers in the DIY home security space. The Ring Car Cam is more than just another dash cam, it’s a security camera as well that can react to movements when our car is parked and alert us.

Why the Ring Car Cam Stood Out in Testing: Unsurprisingly, the Ring Car Cam is functions well as a security camera, reacting to movements even the car is parked.

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Govee Smart Air Quality Monitor

There are a lot of indoor air quality monitors and the number is bound to go up as demand rises to meet the smog. Unfortunately, very few monitors are intuitive, much less glanceable. The Govee Smart Air Quality Monitor is both.It is also incredibly at sniffing out dangerous components within household products. Is it bad that smoke from Canada is blanketing America? Yes. Is it also bad that cooling oil and disinfectant sprays contain irritants that can hang in the living room like an angry cloud? Also yes. The Govee Smart Air Quality Monitor provides particulate matter levels in an easy to understand way and integrates with both Alexa and Google home, allowing smart users to set up notifications.

Why the Govee Smart Air Quality Monitor Stood Out in Testing: No need to check the phone for yet another data point.

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Lorex 2K Wireless Doorbell

 
Video doorbells are a nightmare to install. The Lorex 2K Wireless Doorbell isn’t. Unlike traditional doorbells that are wired to a power source, this one’s battery powered. No wires turn out to be a very smart turn on the knob product category.
 
The Wireless Doorbell is specifically good for anyone living in an apartment. The super isn’t going to get pissed and no one will have to find the circuit breaker. Also, it captures crisp 2K images of the neighbors stealing Amazon packages (that’s normal, right?).

Why the Lorex 2K Wireless Doorbell Stood Out in Testing: Simple installation. That’s the whole deal.

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Ring Battery Doorbell Plus

Ring made video doorbells a thing when their first model dropped in 2014. The company has since been sold to Amazon, but its focus on delivering a stellar product has remained as iteration has led to advancement. That’s particularly true in regards to lenses. Other doorbells with 16:9 aspect ratios provide significantly less coverage than the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus does with its 1536p camera.
 
The other standout feature here is the removable battery pack, which saves a lot of time and nails the dismount (so to speak), allowing the actual doorbell to remain on its plate. 

Why the Ring Battery Doorbell Plus Stood Out in Testing: Head-to-toe coverage keeps packages left by the front door in full view.

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Aqara Vibration Sensor

The Aqara Vibration Sensor is a funny piece of tech in that it’s something no one living a safe distance from the San Andreas Fault particular needs, but that absolutely everyone can use. Think of the sensor as, well, a sensor. Put it wherever you are worried about disruptions or incursions. Cat’s litter box? Sure. Medicine cabinet before a party? Sure. Garbage can/trash panda buffet? Absolutely. Essentially, the Aqare is a tool for sensing vibrations. It just turns out that vibes are everything.

Why the Aqara Vibration Sensor Stood Out in Testing: The sensitivity of the thing is off the charts, which makes it pretty fun to play with TBH.

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Symnelec Security Camera Light Bulb

Serving double duty as a security guard outside and a source of light, the Symynelec Security Camera Light Bulb pans and tilts to follow the movements of passersby then sends alerts and stores footage on a microSD card. 

Unlike traditional outdoor security cameras that may need to be recharged, the Symynelec Security Camera Light Bulb can be installed in any light bulb socket and takes all the power it needs so we never have to physically interact with it post installation. It also doesn’t require a subscription to keep the footage, which is a huge plus from a pricing standpoint.

Why the Symnelec Security Camera Light Bulb Stood Out in Testing: No electrician. No subscription.

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Eufy s220 SoloCam

Battery powered security cameras make it convenient for any homeowner to have eyeballs on every part of their property, but at some point they need to be taken offline to recharge. There’s none of that with the Eufy s220 SoloCam because of the integrated solar panel that recharges its battery on bright sunny days.
 
When it came to keeping tabs on the happenings of our home, we really how its 135-degree field of view offered extra coverage — and it helped that its 2K video capture was clear and detailed. On those days with inclement weather, its IP67 construction held up, along with enough battery power to get through the next sunny day when it would recharge again.
 
Speaking of battery life, this is the single most important feature of the Eufy s220 SoloCam because we may never have to recharge it. Other security cameras require a separate solar panel to achieve this limitless supply of power, but this one is integrated into the security camera and makes for a more cohesive package.

Why the Eufy s220 SoloCam Stood Out in Testing: Never having to remove this security camera from its outdoor mount to recharge.

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Schlage Encode Plus

Schlage has been making locks as far back as 1920, so you can rest easy knowing its deadbolts offer superior reliability. Even with the changing times, Schlage adapted to keep pace with the rapidly evolving smart home — and the Schlage Encode Plus proved that to us.
 
Most smart locks look clunky. Back door of a pawn shop vibes. The Schlage Encode Plus isn’t gorgeous, but it’s thoughtful and domestic. It looks like something one might find outside, say, a nice apartment. And the satin matte finish on the keypad actually feels nice.  

Why the Schlage Encode Plus Stood Out in Testing: Instant unlocking with Apple products.

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Lockly Flex Touch Pro

Lockly’s Flex Touch Pro is great because it’s invisible. It converts existing deadbolt locks into smart locks. That’s it.
 
Now, that’s no small trick and there is an installation process. But it’s… really not bad at all. And there’s no need for new keys, just the addition of a convenient fingerprint pad, which actually looks pretty cool. It’s subtle and simple. That’s why it works.

Why the Lockly Flex Touch Pro Stood Out in Testing: No need to pat down the pants in search of keys. It’s hard (though not impossible) to lose your fingerprints.

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Samsung SmartThings Station

We’re Raving About: It’s more than just another wireless charging pad, it’s a smart home automations creator.
 
If you’re like us and have a multitude of smart home gadgets, trying to get Alexa compatible devices with Google Assistant is usually out of the question. But the Samsung SmartThings Station is breaking down those barriers.
 
Part wireless charger, we’d like to classify it more as an automations hub that allowed us to set a bunch of routines to control different gadgets. That’s important because it achieved the holy grail of letting us create an automation that involved a door sensor connected to Google Home with a Ring home security camera. We’ll admit that the combinations are endless, but we love how these automations are made simple through Samsung’s SmartThings app.
 
Right before hitting bed, it was really useful to set an automation that turned off all the lights in our home when we placed our smartphone to charge overnight on the Samsung SmartThings Station.

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Insta360 Link

We’re Raving About: Staying in frame during conference calls with its rock steady tracking and steady movement.
 
Webcams shouldn’t be static, they need to be dynamic. The Insta360 Link is a webcam like no other, since it looks like they took a camera and strapped it onto a gimbal. For sure, it’s an odd looking fixture at first glance, but we soon found out how it became one of the most versatile webcams we’ve come across.
 
We really enjoyed how it was able to track our movement during conference calls. Whether we stood up, or moved off frame a bit, the Insta360 Link kept us in center frame at all times because its 4K camera is perched on a gimbal. That gimbal gave it smooth, steady movements as it panned to follow us. Smaller details, like its ability to auto-focus whenever we brought something close to the camera, really showed us the incredible utility of this webcam. It can also be articulated downwards to make it the perfect unboxing video camera with its wide coverage area.
 
Insta360 took all the knowledge they had creating some of the best action cameras and stuffed some of the tech into a dynamic webcam that is also a great gadget for anyone looking to up their content creation game.

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Sleep Number Climate 360

Sleep Number has baked its value proposition into its brand name. Sleep Number produces beds that can be adjusted. Historically, that’s meant soft vs. hard. Now, it means hot vs. cold.
 
Sleep Number’s Climate360 smart bed can be dialed to a preferred temperature (on both sides), allowing cool sleepers and warm sleepers to achieve a previously impossible detente and keep the window shut. The win here is variability and seasonality. The Climate360 allows for summer and winter settings. 
 
As if that was not enough, the Climate360 also tracks sleeping patterns, a relief to the sort of vigilant snoozers who wake up hungry for performance data or just really, really want to know how hot is too hot.

Why the Sleep Number Climate360 Stood Out in Testing: During a short but intense heat wave, the Climate360 kept things cool and comfortable. Being able to react to the weather without throwing off the blankets was a new and memorable experience.

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Jackery Solar Generator 3000 Pro

The Jackery Solar Generator 3000 is big. Really big. It’s also powerful. Really powerful. The 3000 Pro has a 3024Wh battery capacity, which delivers 3000W power, more than enough to charge laptops, smartphones, appliances, and even hair driers, which are basically power vampires. As its name implies, the 3000 Pro comes with solar panels, which makes it a slightly unwieldy, but ultimately effect power source for camping, picnicking, and hanging out on an outlet-free roof. The wheels help solve the mobility problem. 

As far as portable power stations go, the 3000 Pro is more powerful than portable, but that turns out to be a good compromise. With great power comes a great sense of being responsible.

Why the 3000 Pro Stood Out in Testing: We couldn’t drain the thing and we tried. Also, the solar panels were shockingly efficient.

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Flexispot Pro Plus Standing Desk

We’re Raving About: The options that let you choose the color, finish, and accessories to blend with other furniture decor.
 
There’s no need to settle on one particular setup with your desk at home. Flexispot offers that key ingredient, personalization, that few other motorized standing desks makers provide.
 
We love that there are options for color, size, materials, and much more with the Flexispot Pro Standing Desk. Just know that you may need a second hand getting it all put together. After that, however, we found ourselves working efficiently because it can match our preference of standing up or sitting down. Using the controls, we’re able to set preset heights that will automatically adjust the height.
 
Very few standing desks make style a priority, which is exactly why we’re pleased by Flexispot’s robust options.

Why the Flexispot Pro Plus Standing Desk Stood Out in Testing: Very few standing desks make style a priority, which is exactly why we’re pleased by Flexispot’s robust options.

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TCL Dehumidifier

Not all homes require dehumidifiers, but in places where the humidity is high, they’ve wonderful at removing moisture in the air — potentially staving off mold build up in extreme cases. The TCL Smart Dehumidifier not only keeps track of the current moisture level, but we love how we have remote access to turning it on or off.
 
Having remote access to turn it on is useful, especially on days after it rains and the air is saturated with moisture. We’ve been able to minimize water build up in a detached garage by pulling the water moisture in the air using the TCL Smart Dehumidifier. There’s a collection compartment where it stores the water, which then automatically turns off whenever it’s full.
 
There are times when the humidity was at the temperament level of 40%, so there was no need to continue having it on. Rather than going in and out of the garage each time it got to that level, we simply relied on the app to remotely turn it off.

Why the TCL Dehumidifier Stood Out in Testing: Being able to toggle the controls remotely is a big help

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Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0

Fire pits are fun, especially on those cooler summer nights. But one of the issues that can sometimes ruin the experience is the smoke that can build up due to the fire. That’s why we’ve been enjoying the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0, which features a unique design that mitigates smoke.
 
The stainless steel construction made it light enough to carry around, making it perfect for backyards, camping trips, and even a night on the beach. Now, it’s able to minimize smoke thanks to the double-walled construction that reduced smoke — making the fire more efficient and enjoyable. It’s also a breeze to clean up because the Bonfire 2.0 also features a removable ash pan, so one quick action allowed us to dispose of the leftover ash.
 
All of these qualities made the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 such a delightful outdoor fire pit.
 
Why the Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 Stood Out in Testing: The reduced smoke amount and easy clean up makes this easy to use over and over without much upkeep.

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Ecovacs Deebot T9+

If iRobot is The Beatles, Ecovacs is a Detroit garage band. There’s not a lot of name recognition there. But the product – the sweet music of vacuumed grit – is fantastic. The Deebot T9+ has superlative what we want in a obstacle avoidance and powerful suction, but what makes it unique is its air freshener feature. Some vacs leave an odd rubbery odor when they’re done, but not this one. The Deebot infuses the air with a fragrance while cleaning. Also, the mopping function is a kitchen-saver.

Why the Ecovacs Deebot T9+ Stood Out in Testing: The lack of smell. Once you notice, you can’t unnotice.

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Traeger Flatrock Flat Top Griddle

The Traeger Flatrock is the company’s first griddle. Put differently, it’s the new hotness. The Flatrock’s three individually controlled cooking zones allow for multitasking and control. It’s a perfect solution for anything that isn’t steak and it works for steak as well. Also, it’s a manageable size and can fit on a generously proportioned fire escape.

Why the Traeger Flatrock Flat Top Griddle Stood Out in Testing: The Flatrock feels like a grill built by a grill company, not a tech company. That’s high temperature praise.

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SwitchBot Blind Title Motorized Blinds

SwitchBot is the Chromecast of smart blinds. It converts existing blinds into smart ones, saving smart buyers roughly $200. The wrinkle is that the Switchbot requires installation and that installation does take a minute (25 actually). But, once in place, the Switchbot integrates with Alexa and Google Home. Let there be light.
 
The exceptionally unhandy would no doubt struggle a bit with the power supply system if SwitchBot did not cleverly provide a solution in the form of a solar panel that continuously supplies enough charge each day.

Why the SwitchBot Blind Title Motorized Blinds Stood Out in Testing: Not having to switch out the blinds and having $200 to spend on something else.

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LG Smart Front Load Washer with Steam and TurboWash

There’s often a debate about adding ‘smart’ functions to big appliances like washers and dryers. Sure, it could be convenient to remotely start a washer through an app, but does it really matter?
 
Yup. It does. It’s great to offload both the cleaning and the thinking onto a machine. With LG’s We’re AI Mode, that’s easy to do. The washer chooses an appropriate mode and times the cycle. The human part is just stuffing all those shirts in there.

Why the LG Smart Front Load Washer with Steam and TurboWash Stood Out in Testing: No detergent scuffs.

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Samsung Bespoke Side-by-Side Refrigerator

Smart refrigerators don’t need to look like Rosie from The Jetsons. They don’t need enormous touchscreens. They don’t need to be complicated. That’s why the Samsung Bespoke Side-By-Side is a savvier offering than some of its ostensibly smarter rivals: It looks like a damn fridge. The stainless steel option? Great.

While it’s aesthetically pleasing to the eyes, we’re even more enthused about the inside because that’s where Samsung stuffed all of the features. The built-in beverage center on the inside panel even has a pitcher that’s always filled to the top with water and remote access means knowing when the door has been left open.

Why the Samsung Bespoke Side-by-Side Refrigerator Stood Out in Testing: There’s no tech for tech’s sake.

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Husqvarna 450X EPOS

The Husqvarna Automower 450X EPOS is a leap in technology because it’s a wire-free system. The robot mower uses a satnav to map its territory (presumably a lawn) and sensors to avoid obstacles (and children) on the cutting path. The truth is that the Automower stands out because it works; the same cannot be said of many of its rivals. Even. Short. Done. Worth of a pitching wedge.
 
Why the Husqvarna 450X EPOS Stood Out in Testing: Sure, the upfront cost is real, but so is the time saving. It’s deeply satisfying to drink a cocktail and watch the Automower do its thing.

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Roborock Dyad Pro

Roborock’s lineup of robot vacuums is extensive, but the company hasn’t given up on the upright. The Roborock Dyad Pro does double duty in being able to clean up wet messes, then sucking up embedded debris on carpets.
 
The most impressive feature of the Dyad is that it can withstand apathy. Don’t clean it. Don’t maintain it. The Dyad soldiers on. That’s very unusual, especially for a wet vac. Roborock manages the trick by having a self-cleaning base that keeps the upright upright and ready for the next sloppy mess. 

Why the Roborock Dyad Pro Stood Out in Testing: Spill to dust to spill to dust. No problems.

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Dyson V15 Detect

Dyson is a legendary brand because Dyson makes legendary products. How? By introducing new features that no one else would think of, say… a laser on a cordless vacuum.
 
Why a green laser? It helps render fine particles visible. And it makes it easier to see the actually vacuuming process – all those squirrely little bits cleaned away. That’s where the power comes in. The hyperdymium motor spins at a frankly insane 125,000 rpm. Nothing escapes. Still, it’s gentle enough not to mess up a rug of a varnished floor.
 
Why the Dyson V15 Detect Stood Out in Testing: Seeing dust is weird and crazy. Also, like all Dyson products, the Detect looks cool as hell.

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Bartesian Duet

The Bartesian Duet mixes craft cocktails like a real bartender. The only difference is it doesn’t ignore you want you want a Manhattan.
 
The Keurig of cocktail makers, the Duet is at its best when it’s making more complicated drinks, titrating different alcohols and mixers from varied cocktail capsules, the Duet can make almost anything. And the proportions are generally spot on. The only thing it can’t do is add the fruit slice, but it feels like only a matter of time. 
 
Why the Bartesian Duet Stood Out in Testing: Its sleeker design doesn’t take up much space, which means it can live on the bar cart in the corner. Good look.

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GE Smart Profile Stand Mixer

If cooking is an art, baking is a science. GE is making lab equipment. 

The Smart Profile Stand Mixer is one of those new appliances that everyone will either have or want in a decade. Right now, it feels unexpected – like something industrial in the back of a bake shop. But it’s simple to use and its built-in smart scale ensure ingredients are added in proper proportion. No more measuring cups. No more guesswork. Perfect pizza dough. Delicately whipped eggs.

Why the GE Smart Profile Stand Mixer Stood Out in Testing: No more wristwork. Feels nice.

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Greenworks 40V 25" Brushless Self-Propelled Mower

There’s a revolution going on in the home and garden space as many yard tools are increasingly becoming battery powered. Lawn mowers are currently going through this trend, with many brands offering battery-powered to complement standard gas powered ones.
 
Greenworks already has an extensive line of yard tools that leaned on its impressive battery systems, but the Greenworks 40V 25” Brushless Self-Propelled Mower stands out. It’s incredibly quiet and it’s blades are remarkably sharp. It’s the perfect weapon lawn care tool.
 
Why the Greenworks 40V 25″ Brushless Self-Propelled Mower Stood Out in Testing: Paired with a portable power station, the mower never runs out of gas (metaphorically speaking).

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eufy Security Smart Lock

This smart lock is easy to install, and offers a wealth of useful features to the user. It can be controlled from anywhere via a secure app, which means the owner can manage things like key codes or just unlock it or lock it from afar on the fly as needed. It has multiple ways to unlock it including things like Apple Watch unlocking and even voice commands, and works especially well when paired with a eufy doorbell for even more safety.

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